A unique exhibition in St. Petersburg is offering visitors a glimpse into the lives of Soviet diplomats through rare artifacts, including a leather-cased desk clock that once belonged to Alexandra Kollontai, the USSR's first female diplomat. The exhibition, titled "Diplomatic Line of Life: Three Centuries of St. Petersburg Diplomacy," opened on February 11 at the State Museum of Political History of Russia.
The display features personal items from prominent Soviet diplomats such as Georgy Chicherin, Maxim Litvinov, and Kollontai herself. Kollontai, who served as an ambassador to Sweden, Norway, and Mexico, was awarded the rank of extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador during World War II. Her desk clock is among the highlights of the exhibition.
The exhibition also includes a recreation of a diplomat's office from the 1920s to 1940s, complete with authentic artifacts. Visitors can even sit in a diplomat's chair and immerse themselves in the role. Additionally, the display showcases Vyacheslav Molotov's inkwell, who served as the Soviet Union's Foreign Minister from 1953.
Igor Demyanenko, deputy representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in St. Petersburg, emphasized the exhibition's unique collection of departmental awards from the Russian Foreign Ministry, brought specifically from Moscow. A modern diplomatic uniform of an extraordinary and plenipotentiary envoy of the second class is also on display.
Special attention is given to materials related to participants of the Great Patriotic War, including original documents and certificates. The exhibition also features protocol tableware for official receptions and examples of diplomatic gifts, offering a comprehensive look at the history of diplomacy in St. Petersburg from the 19th century to the present day.
This exhibition not only highlights the personal belongings of influential diplomats but also provides a deeper understanding of the diplomatic efforts that shaped the Soviet Union's international relations.
